Cambria, Pismo Beach gear up for Amgen cycling race

Amgen Tour of California, an eight-stage professional cycling race, will start in May at the state Capitol in Sacramento and finish in Thousand Oaks, cover 740 miles, include 12 host cities and feature 16 world-class teams.

Cyclists make their way up the hill near Shoreline Park in Santa Barbara on Thursday, near the beginning of the Stage 5 of the Tour of California.
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Chun Kai Feng, followed by Thomas De Gendt, turns onto another road during the fifth stage of the Tour of California cycling race, Thursday, May 16, 2013, in Los Olivos, Calif.
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Cyclists turn onto a road from California 154 as spectators cheer them on during the fifth stage of the Tour of California cycling race, Thursday, May 16, 2013, in Los Olivos, Calif.
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Cyclists turn onto a road from California 154 as spectators cheer them on during the fifth stage of the Tour of California cycling race, Thursday, May 16, 2013, in Los Olivos, Calif.
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Andrew Millar, Aidan Millar-White, 8, and Terra Millar-White, 10, watch the last of the Tour of California support cars go by on Telephone Road in Santa Maria.
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A breakaway group leads the peloton into Santa Maria.
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The peloton travels East Clark Avenue near Telephone Road south of Santa Maria during Stage 5 of the Amgen Tour of California 2013.
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The peloton travels East Clark Avenue near Telephone Road south of Santa Maria during Stage 5 of the Amgen Tour of California 2013.
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Spectators line Higuera Street at the Vachell Lane turn as riders approach the turn.
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Jens Voigt of RadioShack Leopard Trek leads the breakaway through San Luis Obispo during Stage 5 of the Tour of California on Thursday with Jay McCarthy of Team Saxo-Tinkoff trailing Voigt, who won the the stage from Santa Barbara to Avila Beach.
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The peloton makes the turn from Vachell Lane to South Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo on Thursday.
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Tour of California cyclists pedal down South Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo on their way to the Stage 5 finish line in Avila Beach.

Bruce Smith parks a bike for a race spectator at the SLO County Bicycle Coalition's bike valet area in Avila Beach.
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Bruce Smith parks a bike for a race spectator at the SLO County Bicycle Coalition's bike valet area in Avila Beach.
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An hour and half away from the Tour of California Stage 5 finish in Avila Beach, and the crowd on the final stretch was still pretty thin.
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Spectators near Front and San Miguel streets wait for the Tour of California cyclists to arrive in Avila Beach.
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Spectators wait near San Miguel and Front streets for the Tour of California cyclists to arrive in Avila Beach.
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Tour of California cyclists zoom down San Miguel Street in Avila Beach on their way to the Stage 5 finish line on Front Street.
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Jens Voigt celebrates as he approaches the finish line to win Stage 5 of the Tour of California in Avila Beach.
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Jens Voigt celebrates as he approaches the finish line to win Stage 5 of the Tour of California in Avila Beach.
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Jens Voigt drops to the ground from exhaustion just after crossing the finish line to win Stage 5 of the Tour of California in Avila Beach.
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Tejay van Garderen of BMC Racing Team celebrates as his name is called to put on the coveted yellow jersey, which he captured during Stage 5 of the Tour of California.
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The winners of the Tour of California's fifth stage take the podium Thursday in Avila Beach.
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On the podium after the finish of Stage 5 of The Tour of California in Avila Beach are Jens Voigt, center, first place; Tyler Farrar, left, second place; and Thor Hushovd, third place.
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Spectators leave the finish line area after the awards ceremony for Stage 5 of the Tour of California in Avila Beach.
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Amgen Tour of California announced the route for its ninth annual professional cycling race Thursday, noting that Cambria and Pismo Beach — two of the three new host cities — will showcase California’s iconic coastal route during the May 11-18 competition.

But their sweeping ocean vistas could be deceiving.

“These stages will be anything but relaxing with head winds, tons of climbing and relentless effort to stay in contention,” organizers noted in a news release.

The eight-stage race will start at the state capitol in Sacramento and finish in Thousand Oaks, cover 740 miles, include 12 host cities and feature 16 world-class teams.

On May 14, Cambria will mark the finishing location of the 105-mile Stage 4, which begins at 11:50 a.m. from Monterey. This stage — which tour organizers have dubbed “the most beautiful” stretch — ends at West Main Street and Cambria Road at the Veterans Memorial Building.

Local organizer Guy Savage said that Amgen has said to expect about 2,000 spectators. The community has been planning parking accommodations and informing hoteliers about the event.

“We’re right now pulling together the specifics on our parking plans and other public accommodations,” Savage said. “We will be holding a community meeting as well on March 6 to address questions about the race. We hope this will be a two-night event for some visitors.

“Cambria isn’t the most centralized location, so they’ll want to stay perhaps the night before and the night after.”

Savage said organizers will soon announce a time for the community meeting at the Veterans Memorial Building on 1000 Main St.

Amgen is making a concerted effort to reduce water consumption with the ongoing drought impacts, including using concrete instead of water-filled jugs to anchor tents, he said.

Savage also said visitors will be encouraged to use portable toilets to help reduce water usage from standard flushing.

The next day, May 15, the cyclists will embark on Stage 5 starting at the Pismo Beach Pier at 11:45 a.m. and finish in Santa Barbara at Cabrillo Boulevard and Garden Street. That stage will be 108 miles and include the San Marcos Pass on Highway 154.

Pismo Beach mayor Shelly Higginbotham said the city is “very excited to be the host city and think it’s a good way to showcase beautiful Pismo Beach and the benefits of cycling.”

Higginbotham said city officials also are making plans for accommodating a large crowd and have worked with hoteliers and coordinated with Rideshare of the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments to encourage carpooling to the event. They also plan to reach out to local schools to work on bike safety.